Reed-clamp for musical instruments.



G. S. HERSHEY.

'REED CLAMP FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION II'LED JAN.22.1913.

1,085,684. Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

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l Vanna 1 COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH co WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. HERSHEY, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

REED-CLAMP FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE S. HERSHEY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of WVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reed-Clamps for Musical Instruments, of which the fol lowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in musical inst-ruments and relates particularly to reed instruments such as clarionets.

The invention has for its primary object a simple, durable and efficient construction of reedclamping device, the parts of which can be easily manufactured and assembled and which will possess advantageous characteristics in that the pressure will be evenly distributed over the reed, whereby the same will be prevented from warping, in that the reed will not come in contact with the metal of the device, whereby the tone of the instrument will not be impaired, but made truer and softer, in that it need not be removed from the mouth piece to remove or replace the reed and in that the reed can be adjusted with facility on the mouth piece of the instrument and very readily removed and replaced. And the invention also aims to generally improve devices of this class so as to render them more useful and commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing in which,

Figure l is a plan view of a clarionet mouth piece, embodying the improvements of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and desig nated in the accompanying drawing by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, M designates the mouth piece of a clarionet, and R the reed thereof.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 22, 1913.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914:.

Serial No. 743,588.

My improved reed-clamping device includes a preferably metallic band 1 which is split or divided at one point and there provided with apertured ears 1, through which a binding or tension screw 2 works, whereby the band may be readily clamped around the mouth piece. Preferably in order to pre vent any accidental movement of the band 1, the same is provided on its sides with longitudinal indentations forming retaining ribs 3 which are designed to engage the eX- terior surface of the mouth piece.

The clamping band 1 is formed with a cross bar 4 spaced from the mouth piece to which the band is attached. A tubular head 5 of a clamping lever (i surrounds the cross bar 4, whereby the lev r is fulcrumed on said cross bar, said lever being provided with acam lug 7 designed to impinge against a reed-engaging clamping plate 8 which is of suiiicient size to distribute the pressure over the entire width of the reed and thereby prevent the reed from warping which is an important factor to the player. This clamping plate 8 is formed on its sides intermediate of its ends with spaced lugs 9 designed to embrace guide arms 10 which are formed on the clamping band 1 contiguous to the cross bar 6, saidguide arms ex tending substantially parallel to each other, as clearly illustrated in the drawing. Preferably, in order to prevent the reed from coming in contact with the metal of which the clamping plate 8 is formed, the said plate is provided on its inner surface with a pad or lining ll of rubber, felt or the like.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawing, the operation of my improved reed-clamping device will be apparent.

In the practical use of the device, the band 1 encircles the mouth piece of the clarionet or similar instrument, and is made to fit the body of a thick or th n reed and is placed under the required tension by turning the binding screw 2 so as to be effectually clamped to the mouth piece; the clamping lever G is raised to a relatively vertical or perpendicular position, whereby the cam lug 7 will be disposed in an inoperative position and its pressure will be relieved from the plate 8, and the reed is then slipped into position and properly adjusted, whereupon the lever is turned dew. to the position illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the cam lug 8 being thereby caused to impinge against the outer surface of the reed-engaging clamping plate 8 and the latter in turn securely binding the reed to the mouth piece in properly adjusted position.

\Vhile the accompanying drawing illustrates what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of. my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but that various changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and propertions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

hat I claim is 1. A reed-clamping device, including a band adapted encircle a month piece, said band being formed with inwardly extending ribs designed to engage the exterior surface of the mouth piece, means for tensioning the band around a mouth piece, a reedclamping plate carried by the band, and means for binding the plate upon a reed.

A reed clam iing device including a band adapted for engagement upon a mouth piece, the band being formed with a cross bar and. guide arms contiguous to said cross bar, said cross bar being spaced from the mouth piece, a plate arranged between said guide arms and adapted to engage the reed, said plate being formed with spaced lugs engaging said guide arms, and a lever carried by said cross bar and provided with a cam designed to engage the plate.

3. A reed-clamping device, including a band adapted for engagement upon a month piece, the band being formed with a cross bar and guide arms contiguous to said cross bar, a plate extending underneath the cross bar and adapted to engage the reed, said plate having a guiding connection with said arms, and a clamping lever fulcrumcd on the cross lar and provided with a cam adapted to engage the plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE S. HERSHEY.

ll itnesses G. O. Jonxsozv, Cnas. G. PAULIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

